Bridle-bit



(No Model.)

0. SMITH.

BRIDLE BIT.

No. 468,309. Patented Feb. 2, 1892.

ATTEET INVENTOR" I llghisodicorne UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CALEB SMITH, OF SANNEMIN, ILLINOIS.

BRlDLE-BIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,309, dated February2, 1892.

Application filed September 3, 1891. Serial No. 404,611. (No model.)

To aZl whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CALEB SMITH, of Sannemin, in the county ofLivingston and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Bridle-Bits, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is capable of general application. It may be used ontractable and tender-mouthed horses without inflicting pain ordiscomfort, and it will effectually curb an unruly or hard-mouthed horsewithout, however, lacerating the flesh by a sawing motion.

It consists, generally speaking, of a pair of bit-bars pivoted togetherat their longitudinal centers and connected one end of each withopposite ends of a two-part metallic chin strap or frame, the parts ofwhich are pivoted together.

It also consists, specifically, in the details of construction andcombinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a perspective representation of my device, and Fig. 2 is adiagram or plan representing two positions of the parts by solid linesand dotted lines, respectively.

One bit-bar is shown at 1, the other at 2, and the pivot-pin at 3. Rings4 and 5 are carried in the swinging ends of bit-bars 2 and 1,respectively, and they provide means for connecting the reins with thebit. The curved bars 6, 7, 8, and 9 comprise a chin strap or framebetween the parallelly-arranged bars of which the bit-bars swing. Siderings or guards are formed of the semicircular parts 10, 11, 12, and 13,which extend one pair above the chin-frame and the other pair below, asshown in Fig. 1. The connections 14 and 15 for the halves of the siderings provide pivots for the stationary or comparatively stationary endsof the bit-bars. The chin-frame is composed of two parts, one formed ofbars 6 and 7 and the other of bars 8 and 9, and the two parts areconnected together pivotally at 16.

The bit when in a horses mouth usually maintains the position shown bysolid lines in Fig. 1, and an ordinary pull on the reins will notmaterially alter that position. A good strong pull on the reins will,however, draw the swinging ends of the bit-bars backward, as indicatedby dotted lines in Fig. 1, thus compressing the sides of the month bymeans of the side rings and pinching the lower jaw between thechin-frame and the bitbars with almost any desired degree of severity.

When the bit is used on a horse that is safe beyond question, the reinsmaybe connected with the large side rings, and in that case the bitwill, of course, loose its powerful curbing peculiarity.

I claim- A bridle-bit consisting of the chin-frame 6 7 S 9, pivotallyconnected at 16, bit-bars 1 and 2, connected together pivotally at 3,connected pivotally with the chin frame at 14 and 15, respectively, andextended between the parallel bars of the chin-frame, rings 4 and 5 onthe swinging ends of the bit-bars, and the side rings on the chin-frame,as set forth.

In testimony whereofI sign my namein the presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

CALEB SMITH.

Attest:

G. H. GRAY, J12, Tnos. SMITH.

